PRECIOUS-Gold firms as upbeat US GDP data dampens rate-cut bets; focus on PCE

By Ishaan Arora

Sept 26 (Reuters) - Gold held steady on Friday after better-than-expected U.S. GDP data dampened bets of further rate cuts, while investors awaited key inflation data due later in the day.

Spot gold XAU= held its ground at $3,748.39 per ounce, as of 1030 GMT. The metal has climbed 1.8% so far this week, and hit a record high of $3,790.82 on Tuesday.

U.S. gold futures GCcv1 for December delivery rose 0.2% to $3,778.70.

Data released on Thursday showed the U.S. economy grew faster than estimated in the second quarter, while weekly jobless claims declined.

"Gold is holding steady around the mid-$3,700 region, given the latest display of resilience by the U.S. economy, paring bets for Fed rate cuts by end-2025, with those odds lowered by as much as 18 percentage points this week," said Han Tan, chief market analyst at Nemo.money.

Investors now see an 88% and 62% chance of rate cuts in October and December, respectively, down from 91% and 76% prior to the data, according to the CME FedWatch Tool.

All eyes are now on the personal consumption expenditures price index data, the U.S. Federal Reserve's go-to inflation measure, due at 1230 GMT.

The report could show a 0.3% month-on-month rise and a 2.7% year-on-year jump in August, according to a Reuters poll.

"Markets don't expect an unruly showing from the incoming PCE figures, suggesting that inflation remains in check. However, should they come in notably higher than expectations, which may prompt limited declines for gold," Tan said.

Safe-haven bullion thrives in a low interest-rate environment and in times of geopolitical and economic uncertainty.

On the trade front, President Donald Trump announced a fresh round of tariffs on imported drugs, trucks and furniture, starting October 1.

Among other metals, spot silver XAG= fell 0.4% to $45.02 per ounce, while platinum XPT= jumped 0.1% to $1,531.05 to hover near a 12-year high. Palladium XPD= was down at $1,239.78. All three metals were headed for weekly gains.

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